Sermon
101120P-Teaching The Importance of Baptism.mp3
How to teach the Biblical Doctrine of Baptism to a New Christian
BAPTISM – The Believer’s 1st Step Of Obedience After They Get Saved
BAPTIZE – To dip, to immerse, to submerge, to put under water; To cover completely.
Acts 8:29-40 – Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. (30) And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? (31) And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. (32) The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: (33) In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. (34) And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? (35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (36) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (39) And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (40) But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
The word baptize does not mean sprinkled.
It means to go completely under water.
God Commands Us To Be Baptized
Matthew 28:19, 20 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 10:48 – And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
I John 5:3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
We Are To Be Baptized After We Believe in Jesus
There is no place in the Bible where someone was ever baptized before they were saved.
Infant baptism has never been in the Bible or early church practices.
Infant baptism is not scriptural.
It is a fancy bath but has nothing to do with our obedience as a child of God.
Mark 16:15-16 – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:41 – Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 8:35-38 – Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. (36) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 16:30-33 – And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (32) And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. (33) And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Acts18:8 – And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Acts 8:12 – But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
We Are To Be Baptized By Immersion
Matthew 3:16 – And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Acts 8:38-39 – And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (39) And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
Romans 6:3-5 – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
When someone dies, you don’t sprinkle them with dirt; you bury or immerse them.
Baptism by immersion pictures our position with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
All Roman Catholic churches had baptismal pools for immersion until the thirteenth century.
We Are To Be Baptized Immediately
Acts 2:41 – Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 16:29-33 – Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, (30) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
(32) And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
(33) And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
To Refuse to Be Baptized is Disobedience
James 4:17 – Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
I Corinthians 12:13 – For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit will lead you to get baptized.
- When you get baptized, the Holy Spirit will lead you to be a member of the Local, New Testament, Baptist Church.
The Holy Spirit will immerse you in that local body. The Holy Spirit will lead you to get involved in that local body.
Illustration – The Wedding Ring
- Getting saved gets you on the bus to Heaven, but getting baptized gets you a seat.
- It is a deed without words to testify of you trusting Jesus Christ.
- It is a physical picture of a spiritual truth.
Luke 7:29‑30 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
People who don’t get baptized in obedience to the Word of God reject the Counsel of God.
They can’t grow in the Lord.
Saying “No” to God is very dangerous.
Proverbs 1:23‑29 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
VII. Every time It Says ‘Baptism’ in the Bible, It Is Not Necessarily Referring to Water Baptism
- Acts 1:5 – For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
- This is talking about you getting filled with the Holy Ghost.
- This is after you’ve been baptized by immersion because you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
- John 1:33 – And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
VIII. Baptism Cannot Save Anyone And Has Never Saved Anyone
Jesus didn’t baptize
John 4:1 & 2 – When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (2) (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples.)
Paul didn’t baptize –
I Corinthians 1:17 – For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Baptism cannot wash away sin. Only the blood of Jesus Christ does that.
Hebrews 9:22 – And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
I John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5 – And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Acts 2:38 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The word “for” means “because of” not “unto”
My trust or faith is in the blood of Christ, not baptism.
Romans 3:25 – Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
For someone to put their trust in baptism is to not be saved.
Romans 3:28 – Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Matthew 3:15 – And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Jesus called baptism a righteousness or a work.
Use the Simple Scriptures to Teach the Harder Scriptures
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 – He that believeth on him is not condemned:but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 – 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:24 – 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:47 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 16:31 – And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
There is no contradiction in Scripture at all! If there appears to be a contradiction then you give God the benefit of the doubt and you realize there must be something about that topic you don’t understand.
People were saved the same way in the O.T. as in the N.T.
People were saved in the Old Testament by faith without baptism. People were saved during the life of Jesus by faith without baptism. People were saved after Pentacost by faith without baptism.
Acts 10:43 – To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Galatians 3:8 – And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Luke 7:48 – And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Luke 18:42 – And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Luke 18:13-14 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: ……..
Luke 18:41‑42 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Mark 5:19 – Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Acts 13:39 – And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
None of these were baptized before Jesus died on the Cross, but the Bible says they were saved.
Water is a Picture or Symbol of the Word of God
John 3:5 – Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
I John 5:8 – And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Titus 3:5 – Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 5:25-26 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
John 13:10 – Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
John 15:3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Psalm 119:9 – Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
HOW I KNOW BAPTISM CANNOT WASH AWAY SIN
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 3:15‑16 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8‑9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Acts 16:30‑31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Salvation is a Person. God’s Salvation has never been a system or religion.
Baptism is a Work
Matthew 3:14‑15 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Works Cannot Save and will never be able to save
Think of someone actually being able to earn salvation
What are your works compared to what Christ did for you on the Cross
John 6:28‑29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:4‑5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Ephesians 2:8‑9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Titus 3:5‑6 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
There is only ONE GOSPEL
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 15:1‑4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Galatians 1:6‑9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1 Corinthians 1:17‑18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
ONLY the Blood of Jesus washes away sin
Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
I Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev 1:5 ……..Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
You Contact the blood of Jesus Christ through faith in His blood not the baptistery waters.
You get saved by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:12‑13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts 16:30‑31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Water Baptism cannot wash away sin. 1 Pet 3:21
THE FOLLOWING ARE MISUNDERSTOOD VERSES BUT PROPER STUDY OF GOD’S WORD SHOWS THAT THERE ARE NO CONTRADICTIONS IN SCRIPTURE
ACTS 2:38
Acts 2:37‑38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- What is the Question? — What shall we do? — This is not the same as Acts 16
Acts 16:30‑31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
- They were told how to be saved in verse 21
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- To Receive Remission or deliverance or freedom or pardon, the scripture is very clear
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
- The key word is FOR: It means “Because of,” not, “In order to.”
Example: A man is paid for his work
Spank a child for disobedience
Leap for Joy
When you get a ticket for speeding
If a person goes to jail for murder
If a woman is praised for her beauty
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke 5:13‑14 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
ACTS 22:16
Acts 22:12‑16 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Paul said that Annanias said
This is a figure of speech like ……… “This is my body,” or, “This is my blood.” ……. Matt 26:28, Mark 14:24, John 6:55
In the first Bible account God records:
Acts 9:15‑18 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Paul is not contradicting the statement he made to the jailer
Acts 16:30‑31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Or his own statement to the people of Antioch
Acts 13:38‑39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
MARK 16:16
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
He that believeth is still saved when he is baptized.
It does not say that he that is not baptized shall be damned.
It does not say that there are 2 conditions for salvation.
There is only 1 condition for salvation – believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.
You could rephrase the verse this way:
He that gets on the bus and takes his seat shall get to Chicago.
He that gets does not get on the bus shall stay here.
He that believeth and is baptized and goes to church and lives right will be saved.
This is a correct statement but all these things cannot get a person to Heaven.
A person who believes will be baptized, not to get saved, but because he is saved.
I PETER 3:21
1 Peter 3:18‑22 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
In verse 18 we are told how to be saved. This is the means of our salvation – the death of Christ on the cross in the sinners stead.
This is first talking about the Word of God which Christ preached through the Spirit in Noah before the flood.
- It is obviously only a figure of speech to say that Noah and eight souls were saved by water. The word, “by,” in verse 20 means – the channel of an act; through. They were saved through water.
- God uses the words, “like figure,” to start vs. 21 Baptism is simply mentioned as a figure, a symbol, a picture of salvation. It does not save. It declares salvation.
- The eight souls that were saved were saved in the ark, not in the water! The ark was a type of Christ. The eight souls in the ark were saved before the water came. If the had not been in the ark, they would have been eight souls lost in water. You must be safe in the ark (that is, in Christ) before baptism becomes a figure. All the other souls were lost in the water because they were not in the ark. The eight saved were in the ark, not in the water, so the water did not have anything to do with their salvation. In vs. 21 Peter plainly declares that this is a, “figure,” of salvation, and that baptism is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, a conscience already purged, before one is baptized.
- The verse plainly says that baptism cannot put away the filth of the flesh.
- Read the verse without the parenthetical statement in it and you can see thing a little clearer.
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- So are you saved by baptism or by the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
- Baptism is a picture of our Salvation that we have in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
JAMES 2
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:20‑24 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
The book of James deals with Salvation from man’s view.
By God’s view you are saved when you trust Christ as your Saviour.
Because man cannot see your heart, when your faith is visibly displayed or manifested in works is when you prove you are saved.
The word dead does not mean non-existent, it means unfruitful.
If someone only believes Christ then they are saved in God’s eyes but man has not seen the salvation manifested outwardly and has not proof or fruit in their salvation. Their salvation is profitable or beneficial to no one.
Who called Abraham “The friend of God?” The people of the land did because they saw his good works.
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